{"id":10136,"date":"2025-07-27T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T07:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=10136"},"modified":"2025-07-27T15:48:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T15:48:37","slug":"our-first-week-in-bran-bears-castles-and-so-many-groceries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?p=10136","title":{"rendered":"Our First Week in Bran: Bears, Castles, and So Many Groceries"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We landed in Bran, Romania <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">after<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> Budapest for more summer adventure \u2014 and what an unforgettable first week it was! <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We\u2019re<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> sharing a house just a short walk from the iconic Bran Castle with three other families, totaling 17 people under one very busy roof. Needless to say, we are <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a sight<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> at the grocery store \u2014 imagine four carts, piles of produce, enough milk and juice to float a boat, and wide-eyed cashiers watching our chaos unfold.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-10136 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10138'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1236\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced.jpg 1236w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced-1024x827.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced-768x620.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced-320x258.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced-480x388.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/cc84e6a9-aeee-4ff6-bda7-c3589234dced-800x646.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1236px) 100vw, 1236px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10140'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9046-1-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10150'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"561\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/92f22757-1fb4-4f3a-9abe-a9be9d2bbdb3.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/92f22757-1fb4-4f3a-9abe-a9be9d2bbdb3.jpg 561w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/92f22757-1fb4-4f3a-9abe-a9be9d2bbdb3-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/92f22757-1fb4-4f3a-9abe-a9be9d2bbdb3-320x569.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/92f22757-1fb4-4f3a-9abe-a9be9d2bbdb3-480x854.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 561px) 100vw, 561px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The house is alive with energy. The kids bounce between card games, Dungeons &amp; Dragons, computer games, and running around outside. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> a calisthenics crew that meets a couple of times a week (some people just cheer them on while holding coffee mugs), and one afternoon, Chris gave an impromptu talk on probability and how to win at gambling \u2014 a very <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">worldschool<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> moment if ever there was one.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-10136 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10143'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"932\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8cd8a453-af72-466f-b137-a01042014f8c.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8cd8a453-af72-466f-b137-a01042014f8c.jpg 932w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8cd8a453-af72-466f-b137-a01042014f8c-280x300.jpg 280w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8cd8a453-af72-466f-b137-a01042014f8c-768x822.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8cd8a453-af72-466f-b137-a01042014f8c-320x343.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8cd8a453-af72-466f-b137-a01042014f8c-480x514.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/8cd8a453-af72-466f-b137-a01042014f8c-800x857.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 932px) 100vw, 932px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10144'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1310\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5.jpg 1310w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5-1024x780.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5-768x585.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5-320x244.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5-480x366.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/9b7beee7-4f94-464d-b2cf-be6b3e6e26f5-800x609.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1310px) 100vw, 1310px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10149'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-10149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0372-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-2-10149'>\n\t\t\t\tCalisthenics with Kristian\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10148'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"752\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/04d527d7-cd96-4996-a814-a21d975f9e62.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/04d527d7-cd96-4996-a814-a21d975f9e62.jpg 752w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/04d527d7-cd96-4996-a814-a21d975f9e62-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/04d527d7-cd96-4996-a814-a21d975f9e62-320x425.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/04d527d7-cd96-4996-a814-a21d975f9e62-480x637.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10147'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0464-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10142'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"962\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1b887d9c-d02a-4630-b599-4003ae53a2f9.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1b887d9c-d02a-4630-b599-4003ae53a2f9.jpg 962w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1b887d9c-d02a-4630-b599-4003ae53a2f9-289x300.jpg 289w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1b887d9c-d02a-4630-b599-4003ae53a2f9-768x797.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1b887d9c-d02a-4630-b599-4003ae53a2f9-320x332.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1b887d9c-d02a-4630-b599-4003ae53a2f9-480x498.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/1b887d9c-d02a-4630-b599-4003ae53a2f9-800x830.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 962px) 100vw, 962px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10141'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1496\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22.jpg 1496w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22-480x320.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/00f47fb4-dd59-4a01-99dc-6ab9beffae22-800x534.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1496px) 100vw, 1496px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10145'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"731\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/473df51f-213a-4613-b213-0553afaa2306.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/473df51f-213a-4613-b213-0553afaa2306.jpg 731w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/473df51f-213a-4613-b213-0553afaa2306-220x300.jpg 220w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/473df51f-213a-4613-b213-0553afaa2306-320x437.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/473df51f-213a-4613-b213-0553afaa2306-480x655.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 731px) 100vw, 731px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10146'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"872\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0d14535-6962-48c4-ab74-d8f4b0d926da.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0d14535-6962-48c4-ab74-d8f4b0d926da.jpg 872w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0d14535-6962-48c4-ab74-d8f4b0d926da-262x300.jpg 262w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0d14535-6962-48c4-ab74-d8f4b0d926da-768x879.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0d14535-6962-48c4-ab74-d8f4b0d926da-320x366.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0d14535-6962-48c4-ab74-d8f4b0d926da-480x549.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a0d14535-6962-48c4-ab74-d8f4b0d926da-800x916.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 872px) 100vw, 872px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10177'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"894\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/e2f7fce4-dcac-432a-8498-8b61509b5c0e.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/e2f7fce4-dcac-432a-8498-8b61509b5c0e.jpg 894w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/e2f7fce4-dcac-432a-8498-8b61509b5c0e-269x300.jpg 269w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/e2f7fce4-dcac-432a-8498-8b61509b5c0e-768x857.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/e2f7fce4-dcac-432a-8498-8b61509b5c0e-320x357.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/e2f7fce4-dcac-432a-8498-8b61509b5c0e-480x536.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/e2f7fce4-dcac-432a-8498-8b61509b5c0e-800x893.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 894px) 100vw, 894px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10176'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"782\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/55600ec8-3858-495e-9edf-d20e7247ec7d.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/55600ec8-3858-495e-9edf-d20e7247ec7d.jpg 782w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/55600ec8-3858-495e-9edf-d20e7247ec7d-235x300.jpg 235w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/55600ec8-3858-495e-9edf-d20e7247ec7d-768x980.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/55600ec8-3858-495e-9edf-d20e7247ec7d-320x408.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/55600ec8-3858-495e-9edf-d20e7247ec7d-480x613.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10185'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1325\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy.jpg 1325w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy-320x241.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy-480x362.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/093abaf7-be3e-4272-8ffb-fba5c5370a6c-Copy-800x603.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1325px) 100vw, 1325px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10187'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1326\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy.jpg 1326w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy-320x241.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy-480x361.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/54395224-f232-41f1-9968-be72f07312f2-Copy-800x602.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1326px) 100vw, 1326px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10189'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0433-Copy-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10190'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0470-Copy-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We\u2019ve<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> been doing plenty of cooking and baking \u2014 The kids and I made Chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Mealtimes are a mix of laughter, chopping, negotiating counter space, and a minor miracle of coordination. Feeding 17 people is no joke, but <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">it\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> somehow become one of our favorite parts of the day.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-10136 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10152'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0423-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10151'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1022\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021.jpg 1022w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021-300x293.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021-768x750.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021-320x312.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021-480x469.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021-800x781.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/6b0ca8c6-b83c-4623-bcd7-a4b06667f021-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1022px) 100vw, 1022px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10153'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9068.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9068.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9068-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9068-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_9068-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">We\u2019ve<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> also had some memorable outings. A highlight was our visit to the Libearty Bear Sanctuary in nearby Z\u0103rne\u0219ti. The sanctuary is home to over 100 rescued brown bears who <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">were saved<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> from captivity and abuse. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It&#8217;s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> an inspiring place, surrounded by forests and rolling hills. The kids were especially excited to<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> \u201c<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">adopt<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201d <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a bear named Grisha, who now holds a special place in our hearts. Grisha is in one of the enclosures with a camera, so sometimes we can spot her.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-10136 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10155'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"975\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064.jpg 975w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064-293x300.jpg 293w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064-768x786.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064-320x328.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064-480x491.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064-800x819.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/708b52b7-b3c6-4c4b-8b6c-be531a43a064-45x45.jpg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 975px) 100vw, 975px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10158'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-10158\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0379-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-10158'>\n\t\t\t\tLibearty Bear Sanctuary\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10159'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0383-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10154'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2baa7003-834a-4038-9217-13b1c31c5860.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2baa7003-834a-4038-9217-13b1c31c5860.jpg 750w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2baa7003-834a-4038-9217-13b1c31c5860-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2baa7003-834a-4038-9217-13b1c31c5860-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2baa7003-834a-4038-9217-13b1c31c5860-480x639.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10156'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"752\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c431ee56-e4e1-473a-85b8-162cc585af32.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c431ee56-e4e1-473a-85b8-162cc585af32.jpg 752w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c431ee56-e4e1-473a-85b8-162cc585af32-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c431ee56-e4e1-473a-85b8-162cc585af32-320x425.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c431ee56-e4e1-473a-85b8-162cc585af32-480x637.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10157'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1325\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-10157\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296.jpg 1325w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296-320x241.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296-480x362.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/c9419747-894c-445a-899d-043fd5539296-800x603.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1325px) 100vw, 1325px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-4-10157'>\n\t\t\t\tThey adopted a bear named Grisha\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10160'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5e71c1ab-0589-4b6d-a1a0-0ebe933ba52b.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5e71c1ab-0589-4b6d-a1a0-0ebe933ba52b.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5e71c1ab-0589-4b6d-a1a0-0ebe933ba52b-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5e71c1ab-0589-4b6d-a1a0-0ebe933ba52b-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/5e71c1ab-0589-4b6d-a1a0-0ebe933ba52b-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Of course, no visit to Bran is complete without a trip to Bran Castle<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2014 often associated with Dracula, though the connection is more legend than fact. The castle itself is stunning, perched high above the village, with winding staircases, secret passageways, and sweeping views of the mountains. The history is fascinating, and the kids had a blast imagining vampire stories while we adults admired the architecture and soaked up the eerie atmosphere.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery galleryid-10136 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10170'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/190fff3b-a42a-483c-b254-a48dd1ae41f7-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10170\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/190fff3b-a42a-483c-b254-a48dd1ae41f7-1.jpg 750w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/190fff3b-a42a-483c-b254-a48dd1ae41f7-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/190fff3b-a42a-483c-b254-a48dd1ae41f7-1-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/190fff3b-a42a-483c-b254-a48dd1ae41f7-1-480x639.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10170'>\n\t\t\t\tHeading to the castle\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10163'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"738\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/57999160-a127-49b2-b7af-a6bab8316be2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10163\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/57999160-a127-49b2-b7af-a6bab8316be2.jpg 738w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/57999160-a127-49b2-b7af-a6bab8316be2-222x300.jpg 222w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/57999160-a127-49b2-b7af-a6bab8316be2-320x433.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/57999160-a127-49b2-b7af-a6bab8316be2-480x649.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 738px) 100vw, 738px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10163'>\n\t\t\t\tBran Castle\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10161'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"752\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/02ddd235-5326-4577-b7f0-47b0026b5bac.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/02ddd235-5326-4577-b7f0-47b0026b5bac.jpg 752w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/02ddd235-5326-4577-b7f0-47b0026b5bac-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/02ddd235-5326-4577-b7f0-47b0026b5bac-320x425.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/02ddd235-5326-4577-b7f0-47b0026b5bac-480x637.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10161'>\n\t\t\t\tCourtyard\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10172'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0477-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10173'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0483-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10173'>\n\t\t\t\tI spy with my little eye\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10171'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bc4d1c2a-8d50-4855-a323-c2b2ba7f7fce.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bc4d1c2a-8d50-4855-a323-c2b2ba7f7fce.jpg 750w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bc4d1c2a-8d50-4855-a323-c2b2ba7f7fce-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bc4d1c2a-8d50-4855-a323-c2b2ba7f7fce-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/bc4d1c2a-8d50-4855-a323-c2b2ba7f7fce-480x639.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10162'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"705\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/436faff8-5e1a-47cf-a3e5-33b42015d933.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/436faff8-5e1a-47cf-a3e5-33b42015d933.jpg 705w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/436faff8-5e1a-47cf-a3e5-33b42015d933-212x300.jpg 212w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/436faff8-5e1a-47cf-a3e5-33b42015d933-320x453.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/436faff8-5e1a-47cf-a3e5-33b42015d933-480x679.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 705px) 100vw, 705px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10162'>\n\t\t\t\tTaking a break from the stairs\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10164'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1044\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c.jpg 1044w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c-300x287.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c-1024x979.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c-768x734.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c-320x306.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c-480x459.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/a58ccabf-2ff3-4fb7-bf7f-a4cbd180732c-800x765.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1044px) 100vw, 1044px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10164'>\n\t\t\t\tGuards on duty\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10184'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0473.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0473.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0473-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0473-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0473-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10165'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d67a2768-25b2-4f65-8edf-d8fab610d124.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d67a2768-25b2-4f65-8edf-d8fab610d124.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d67a2768-25b2-4f65-8edf-d8fab610d124-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d67a2768-25b2-4f65-8edf-d8fab610d124-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/d67a2768-25b2-4f65-8edf-d8fab610d124-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10165'>\n\t\t\t\tBlah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10166'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"752\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ec8735cd-3993-49cd-9e5f-a000b06cbe63.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10166\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ec8735cd-3993-49cd-9e5f-a000b06cbe63.jpg 752w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ec8735cd-3993-49cd-9e5f-a000b06cbe63-226x300.jpg 226w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ec8735cd-3993-49cd-9e5f-a000b06cbe63-320x425.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ec8735cd-3993-49cd-9e5f-a000b06cbe63-480x637.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10166'>\n\t\t\t\tOur photo from 1983 \n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10167'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0389-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10167'>\n\t\t\t\tThe ground around the castle\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10168'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-10168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0391-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-5-10168'>\n\t\t\t\tAn old church\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">As if our house <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">wasn&#8217;t<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">full<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> enough, we hosted a cookout and welcomed even more worldschoolers! Rachel, who runs the Worldschool Pop-Up Hubs, came by with her family, and two other families also came. One who runs a hub right here in Romania and another <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">who\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> attending. It was great to swap stories, share a meal, and let the kids run wild together.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery galleryid-10136 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10175'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0377ec0f-8fd8-4179-baff-287069997454-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10174'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1325\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8.jpg 1325w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8-320x241.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8-480x362.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0ffeae6e-9b45-4f84-989a-396959c855c8-800x603.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1325px) 100vw, 1325px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lucas celebrated his 15th birthday this week (how is that possible?!), and it just so happens that our friend Kristian shares the same birthday! We marked the occasion with a trip to go bowling and some wandering through Bran\u2014 followed by a low-stakes poker night with the dads.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery galleryid-10136 gallery-columns-1 gallery-size-full'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10182'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0420.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0420.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0420-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0420-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0420-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10181'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/56868165-c32b-468d-acc0-8f4766b7b38c.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/56868165-c32b-468d-acc0-8f4766b7b38c.jpg 749w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/56868165-c32b-468d-acc0-8f4766b7b38c-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/56868165-c32b-468d-acc0-8f4766b7b38c-320x426.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/56868165-c32b-468d-acc0-8f4766b7b38c-480x640.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10183'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0437-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10178'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"939\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7ce9e932-955f-4568-9e77-88766bd1725e.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7ce9e932-955f-4568-9e77-88766bd1725e.jpg 939w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7ce9e932-955f-4568-9e77-88766bd1725e-282x300.jpg 282w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7ce9e932-955f-4568-9e77-88766bd1725e-768x816.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7ce9e932-955f-4568-9e77-88766bd1725e-320x340.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7ce9e932-955f-4568-9e77-88766bd1725e-480x510.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7ce9e932-955f-4568-9e77-88766bd1725e-800x850.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10179'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"813\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7d83be38-98df-41c6-bbfd-7adae7bab701.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7d83be38-98df-41c6-bbfd-7adae7bab701.jpg 813w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7d83be38-98df-41c6-bbfd-7adae7bab701-244x300.jpg 244w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7d83be38-98df-41c6-bbfd-7adae7bab701-768x943.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7d83be38-98df-41c6-bbfd-7adae7bab701-320x393.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7d83be38-98df-41c6-bbfd-7adae7bab701-480x589.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7d83be38-98df-41c6-bbfd-7adae7bab701-800x982.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 813px) 100vw, 813px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10180'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"792\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7e26c68d-0142-4421-8889-b67061869f40.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7e26c68d-0142-4421-8889-b67061869f40.jpg 792w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7e26c68d-0142-4421-8889-b67061869f40-238x300.jpg 238w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7e26c68d-0142-4421-8889-b67061869f40-768x968.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7e26c68d-0142-4421-8889-b67061869f40-320x403.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/7e26c68d-0142-4421-8889-b67061869f40-480x605.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 792px) 100vw, 792px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/?attachment_id=10194'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1331\" height=\"998\" src=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445.jpg 1331w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_0445-800x600.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1331px) 100vw, 1331px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lucas and Henry love having their friends so close, and honestly, so do we. Being surrounded by our chosen family in this beautiful place feels like such a gift. The rhythm of the week \u2014 a little bit of adventure, a little bit of learning, a whole lot of togetherness \u2014 is <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">exactly<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> what we hoped for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here\u2019s<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> to more weeks like this one in Bran.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We landed in Bran, Romania after Budapest for more summer adventure \u2014 and what an unforgettable first week it was! We\u2019re sharing a house just a short walk from the iconic Bran Castle with three other families, totaling 17 people under one very busy roof. Needless to say, we are a sight at the grocery [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10169,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[166],"tags":[341,343,342,151,15],"class_list":["post-10136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","tag-bran","tag-libearty-sanctuary","tag-romania","tag-worldschool","tag-worldschooling"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10136"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10136\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10383,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10136\/revisions\/10383"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gowatkinsgo.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}